Bobbin replenishing mechanism for looms



B. A. PETERSON BOBBIN REPLENISHING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS March 8, 1949.

Filed June 27, 1946 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR .Bur't A. BY

Peterson M. M ATTORNEYS March 8, 1949.

' B. A. PETERSON BOBBIN REPLENISHING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 27, 1946 INVENTOR Burt A. Pete/"son ATTORNEYS March 8, 1949. B. A. PETERSON 2,463,904

BOBBIN REPLENISHING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed June 27, 1946 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR .Burt A. Peterson ATTORNEYS March 8, 1949. PETERSON 2,463,904

BOBBIN REPLENISHING MECHANISM FOR Looms Filed June 2'7, 1946 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR 33 Burt A. Peterson ATTORNEYS March 8, 1949. B. A. PETERSON BOBBIN REPLENISHING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS 9 Shee'ts-Sheet '7 Filed June 27, 1946 INVENTQR Burt A. Peterson BY 4a.

JLJl-J. 01.44 ATTORNEYS March 8, 1949.

B. A. PETERSON BOBBIN REPLENISHING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed June 27, 1946 6 o H 5 v o m 0 M 0 O T 6 N o M r w R C 0 o Vt T O r O m e T O D! A 1 0-. v P m .H.. O I! I 4 A d 3 II/ l/HIW J 5 Q r m O m y 3 l i1 g a o o B M n L. .c J. w O O r U. T w o 1 7 m o o a 0 I II 7 m U I O 5 M II 6 "--|.N. HUN. I H, 4 C 4 fill I If 1 i 3 1|- 5 or 9 7 a H w 8 a .1 a A J w M 9 00 E a 9/ I M H 5 b H 7 4/ M zw I M im u March 8, 1949. PETERSON 2,463,904

BOBBIN REPLENISHING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed June 27, L946 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR. Burl, A. Paterson ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 8, 1949 BOBBIN REPLENISHING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Burt A. Peterson, Rockford, 111., asslgnor to Barher-Colman Company, Rockford, 111., a corporatlon of Illinois Application June 27, 1946, Serial No. 679,706

45 Claims. (Cl. 139-245) The invention pertains to a mechanism for delivering wound bobbins automatically to a weft replenishing loom, and has especial reference to a mechanism for operating upon bobbins wound with rayon or the like for transferring the same one by one to the loom shuttle from holders supporting individual bobbins in spaced relation, it being necessary that rayon wound bobbins be supported individually and out of contact with each other so as to prevent injury to the yarn.

Weft replenishing looms are commonly provided with means for supplying wound bobbins to the shuttle, such means including a rotary carrier or magazine containing a supply of wound bobbins, in combination with means responsive to the exhaustion of the bobbins in the operation of the loom to remove a wound bobbin from the magazine, deliver it to the shuttle and at the same time eject the exhausted bobbin from the shuttle.

The primary object of the present invention is to supply wound bobbins to the magazine while supporting the bobbins individually so as to prevent injury to the yarn wound thereon.

A further object is to provide in association with the magazine of the replenishing mechanism, a supply mechanism including a loading device providing a plurality of bobbin receptacles and operative to effect the'transfer of the bobbins in such receptacles one by one to the magazine.

Another object is to provide for the automatic delivery of wound bobbins to the loading device.

Still another object is to provide a bobbin supply in which the individual bobbins are supported upon carriers of the pin board type equipped with holders for supporting the individual bobbins in spaced relation, in combination with means for transferring a row of bobbins from the carrier or pin board to the loading device.

A further object is to provide for the actuation of the loading device and of the means for supplying bobbins thereto in proper timed relation to the successive indexing operations of the magazine.

Another object is to provide an end finder mechanism operative in timed relation to the transfer of bobbins to the magazine to position the end of the yarn on a bobbin preliminary to its ejection from the magazine into the loom shuttle.

The objects of the invention thus generally set forth, together with other and ancillary advantages are attained by the construction and arrangement shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an end elevational view of the weft replenishing side of a loom equipped with a bobbin supply and replenishing mechanism embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view looking from the right of Fig. 1 and illustrating the upper portion of the mechanism on an enlarged scale, the guide means for the pin boards or carriers being shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the upper portion of the mechanism as shown in Fig. 1 but on a larger scale.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken approximately in the plane of line 4-4 of Fig. 3 and illustrating in plan an escapement mechanism forming part of the means for advancing the bobbin carriers.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken approximately in the plane of line 5-5 of Fig. 1 but on' a somewhat enlarged scale.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken approximately in the plane of line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing a modified form of my invention adapted for the handling of bobbins mounted upon bobbin carriers through the medium ofsupporting pins necessitating axial movement of the bobbins out of engagement with the pins.

Fig. 7a is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in section taken approximately in the plane of line 99 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing a modified form of loading device.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary front elevational view of this device.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing a modified form of means for positively ejecting bobbins from the pin board, together with an alternative form of means for indexing the pin boards.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view of the modified form shown in Fig. 12 but on a larger scale.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the pin board and associated indexing mechanism looking from the left in Fig. 13, the loading device being shown in section. v

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary front elevational view with parts in section, showing the pin board indexing mechanism on a somewhat smaller scale than that of Fig. 12.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, 1 have shown for purposes of illustration a loom equipped with a bobbin replenishing mechanism of a well known character, together with my improved loading and supply means. The means for delivering wound bobbins to the loom being old, it may be described briefiy as comprising a magazine I3 in the form of a rotary plateor disk mounted v for rotation on a shaft l4 and equipped at its pe-: riphery with a circumferential series of bobbin holders, herein in the form of U-shaped clips l5. Successive stepping or indexing movements are imparted to the magazine l3 to carry wound bobbins successively into a delivery position generally designated DP at the lower central edge of the magazine, and while in this position the bobbins are ejected from the magazine and delivered to a shuttle S supported in the lay 16 of the loom.

The means for imparting indexing movements to the magazine and for ejecting a wound bobbin into the shuttle from the magazine, is operative in response to the action of a detector mechanism which in turn is responsive to exhaustion of yarn from the loom shuttle. The indexing mechanism comprises a ratchet wheel l8 rigid with the magazine, an actuating pawl l3, and a holding pawl 20. The actuating pawl is carried by one arm 2| of a bell crank, the other arm 22 of which carries a member 23 shiftable in response to the action of the detector mechanism into the path of a bunter 24. The latter is mounted upon the lay 16 which is connected by a pitman 25 with a crank arm 26 on the loom drive shaft 21. When the member 23 is shifted into the path of the reciprocating bunter 24, the bell crank is actuated against the action of a coiled torsion spring 28 (Fig. so as to swing the arm 2| and its pawl l9 downwardly, and upon the return movement of the lay, the arm is swung upwardly by the spring 28 to impart an indexing movement to the magazine. In the downward movement of the arm, and therefore in advance of the indexing operation, the wound bobbin previously advanced into the delivery position is engaged by a pair of spaced fingers 29 and 30 carried by the arm 2| (Figs. 1 and 5). Finger 29 is mounted on a rod 3!, and both fingers are appropriately shaped to engage the tip and butt ends respectively of the bobbin. As the wound bobbin moves into the shuttle the exhausted bobbin is discharged therefrom into an underlying carrier container 32.

In accordance with my invention, individually supported wound bobbins are transferred one at a time to the magazine l3 by means comprising generally a loading device 33 providing a series of bobbin receptacles 34 and mounted for reciprocation toward and from the magazine transversely of the direction of movement of the bobbin holders I5 of the magazine. The loading device is herein shown as disposed above the magazine for vertical movement relative thereto, and

4 holders 3T arranged in parallel vertical rows with five holders in each row. In general, the arrangement is such that with the loading device in its uppermost position (it being shown in Figs. 1 and 3 in a partially advanced position), the carrier is advanced to deliver the bobbins of the leading row into the receptacles 34, whereupon the loading device is actuated with a step-by-step movement in timed relation to the indexing movements of the magazine to present bobbins one by one to the loading position; and, upon the transfer of the last bobbin in the leading row to the magazine, the loading device is returned and the carriers advanced to position the next row of bobbins in the loading device.

The loading device 33, in the present embodiment of the invention, is in the form of a rack. It comprises a bar 38 mounted for vertical sliding movement on the loom frame and having a plurality of lugs 39 spaced apart so as to form between them the bobbin receptacles 34. The rack may be supported and guided in the frame in the manner shown in Fig. 8. Thus the bar 33 is formed with side flanges 40 which are guided in a way 4| in a frame member 42. It will be understood that the receptacles 34 formed by the lugs 39 are spaced apart vertically a distance corresponding to the spacing of the holders 31 on the carriers C, so that when the rack is in its uppermost position, an advancing movement imparted to the carriers horizontally (to the left in Fig. 1), will result in the positioning of the leading row of bobbins in the receptacles 34.

The rack 33 is advanced with a step-by-step movement in timed relation to the indexing movements of the magazine I3. In the present preferred embodiment of the invention this means comprises a pawl and ratchet mechanism generally designated 43 (Figs. 2 and 3) arranged for 40 continuous actuation from a, suitable power source spur gear 49 meshing with rack teeth 59 on the upper end of the rack bar 38. The pawl 46 is arranged for reciprocation by a pitman 5i connected with a crank 52 on a power driven shaft is operative to carry wound bobbins in the receptacles 34 successively into engagement with successive holders I 5 on the magazine when the holders occupy their uppermost or loading position generally designated LP.

The bobbin loading device 33 is herein shown as provided with five receptacles 34 disposed one above the other and in spaced relation. Rows of five bobbins each are delivered to the loading device successively, and in the preferred embodiment of my invention the wound bobbins are supported upon carriers C of the pin board type mounted for horizontal sliding movement in stationary guideways 35 and 36. Each of the carriots C is equipped with with a group of bobbin 53, this shaft being connected with the loom drive shaft 21 by a chain and sprocket'mechanism 5| a. The pawl46 is pivoted upon an arm 54 fast on the shaft 48 (Fig. 2). Also fast on the shaft and spaced inwardly therefrom is a second arm 55 carrying at its free end a pin 56 (Fig. 3) riding in a slot 51 in the upper end of the pitman 5|. For a purpose which will subsequently appear, the pin 56 is normally held at the bottom of its slot 51 by a torsion spring 58 (Fig. 2) anchored at one end to a stationary bearing sleeve 59 for the shaft and at its other end to the arm 55.

The feeler device 44 comprises an arm 60 loose on a shaft 'SI and carrying at its lower end a finger 62 disposed so as to engage with a bobbin in the loading position LP on the magazine. A coiled torsion spring 63 acts upon the arm '30 so that the finger 62 is biased to swing toward the bobbin in the loading position and to move with this bobbin in the indexing movement of the magazine.

The feeler is operative to control the pawl and ratchet mechanism through the medium of an arm 84 rigid with the arm 60 and connected with holders to the next lowermost holders.

a guard plate it loose on the shaft 48, the connection between the arm 84 and the plate bein in the present instance in the-form oi. a notch in the hub portion of the guard plate receiving the free end of the guard plate 68. It will be understood that the guard plate It is disposed on the shaft 48 so as to be engageable by the actuating pawl 48, the arrangement being such that when the ieeler 82 engages with a bobbin in the loading position, the guard plate acts to hold the pawl in disengaged relation to the ratchet wheel 45, and when the feeler is permitted to move under the action of its spring 83 as an incldent to the indexing of the magazine, the guard plate is shifted (in a clockwise direction, Fig. 3) to permit the pawl to engage with the ratchet wheel. Thus, while the actuating pawl is continuously reciprocated it becomes effective to impart an advancing movement to the rack 88 only when the guard plate 85 i shifted by the feeler II in response to the movement 01 the magazine.

. In successive advancing movements of the rack the bobbins in the leading row of holders of the bobbin carrier C then in active position are moved step-by-step, the lowermost bobbin first moving into the delivery position and the remaining bobbins moving from their respective To permit of such movement of the individual bobbins transversely of their axes. the'holders 31 are, like the holders I! of the magazine, in the form of U-shaped spring clips. these clips being designed for coaction with the butt ends of the bobbins as shown in Figs. 2 and 5 equipped with the conventional wire rings 68.

After a predetermined number (herein five) of downward stepping movements imparted to the rack, and following movement of the last loaded bobbin out of engagement with its receptacle in the rack by movement of the magazine IS, the

' rack is restored to its initial upper position for the reception of a new vertical row of bobbins. Movement of the rack in an upward direction is effected by means of a coiled torsion spring 81 (Fig. 2) having one end anchored to the frame of the machine and its other end anchored to the spur gear 48, which spring is energized in the downward movement of the rack.

To permit of return movement of the rack, the holding pawl 41 of the pawl and ratchet mechanism is disengaged from the ratchet wheel 45. This is accomplished in the present instance by a lever arm 68 pivoted at '89 and having its free end disposed in the path of a pin 18 on the upper end of the rack bar 38. The holding pawl 41 is mounted on a pivot pin H and has rigid therewith a tall 12 underlying a pin 13 on the lever arm '88. When the rack moves into its lowermost position. the pin strikes the arm 88 swinging it downwardly, thereby actuating the tall 12 of the pawl 41 to shift the latter into disengaged relation to the ratchet wheel.

To insure that the rack 88 will not be returned until the last bobbin advanced to loading position has been moved out Of its receptacle in the rack, the return movement of the rack by the spring 5'! is conditioned upon such indexing movement of the magazine. For this purpose I provide a second feeler I4 pivoted on a bracket 15 and having at its lower end a dog 18 for coaction with a notch 11 in the rack. A coiled torsion spring 18 causes the dog 16 to swing against a stop 16a and into engagement with the notch 11 as the uppermost bobbin of each row is advanced into loading position. The upper end of the 6 feeler has a finger I8 disposed adjacent the loaded bobbin as shown in Fig. 3 so that the latter operates in the succeeding indexing stroke of the magazine to swing the feeler so as to carry the dog 16 out of engagement with the notch 11. The

, the arm 8. The detent normally engagesthe lower one of the notches to hold the lever arm in its elevated position in which the holding pawl is permitted to engage with the ratchet wheel. At the end 01' the upward or return movement of the rack, a pin 82 thereon strikes the free end of the lever arm 88 carrying the pin 13 thereon upward and allowing the pawl 41 to move inwardly into engagement with the ratchet.

It will be seen that by the construction and arrangement set forth, the holding pawl 41 of the pawl and ratchet mechanism is actuated to permit return movement of the rack, but that such return movement is delayed for a suflicient time to permit movement of thelast delivered bobbin to be carried out of engagement withor free of the rack by movement of the magazine II. This is important because an immediate return movement of the rack upon disengagement of the holding pawl would serve to withdraw the last loaded bobbin upwardly from the magazine. Thus not only is the indexing movement of the magazine utilized to render the rack advancing mechanism effective, but such indexing movement is also utilized to control the return of the rack.

Upon the return of the rack to its initial or upper position, a new vertical row of bobbins is moved into the bobbin receptacles 34 of the rack. For this purpose, the bobbin carrier or carriers, as the case may be, are slid horizontally to the left (Fig. 1). This is accomplished in the present instance by the action of a weight 83 on the lower end of a cable 84 running over a guide pulley 85 and connected to a hacker 88 slidable in the ways 35 and 36. As shown in Fig. 2. the backer is in the form of a metal plate having upper and lower edge flanges 81 engaging in the ways 35 and 36. The left-hand edge of the backer is disposed in abutting relation to the trailing carrier, two such carriers being shown in Fig. 1.

For controlling movement of the carriers under the action of the weight 83, I provide an escapement mechanism designated generally 88 (Figs. 3 and 4) conditioned as an incident to the movement of the rack into its lowermost position and actuated to initiate a stepping movement of the carrier upon the return of the rack to its return or upper position. This escapement mechanism comprises two pawls 89 and 88 pivotally mounted upon a common supporting stud 9| and respectively engaging in spaced notches 82 in the upper edges of the carriers C, such notches being formed in opposite edges of the carriers so that the latter may be positioned with either edge uppermost. As shown in Fig. 4. the pawls have portions extending laterally with respect to the carrier and these portions are of a thickness somewhat less than the width of the notches for a purpose which will present appear.

Normally, the pawl 88 engages in its notch 82 and the pawl 89 is elevated with respect to its notch as shown in Fig. 3. At the end of the downward movement of the rack. ,the pin I8 on the rack engages the lever arm 88 as above described, moving this arm downwardly, and this movement of the arm is utilized through the medium of a connecting link 98 to swing the pawl 89 downwardly into engagement with its notch while lifting the pawl 98 out of its'notch. Due to the width of the notch into which the pawl 89 thus moves, the carrier is permitted to advance a short distance suflicient to carry the notch for the pawl 98 out from under this pawl so as to rest upon the upper edge of the carrier immediately to the right (Fig. 3) of the notch.

The notches 92 are spaced apart according to the spacing of the rows of bobbin holders on the carrier, and movement of the carrier is initiated upon the return movement of the rack 38 to its upper position. For this purpose, the pawls 89 and 98 have a yieldable lost motion connection 98 therebetween (Fig. 4) permitting the pawl 89 to be moved upwardly relative to the pawl 98 so as to free the carrier for movement by the weight 88 until the pawl 98 drops into the next notch. Such upward lifting movement is imparted to the pawl 89 through the medium of the link 98 connecting the pawl 89 with the lever arm 88.

Thus, as the rack approaches its uppermost position, the pin 82 engaging with the lever arm 88 as above described, lifts the arm and thereby the pawl 89 as permitted by the yieldable lost motion connection.

In the present instance, the lost motion connection is formed by a notch 98 in a hub portion 98 rigid with the pawl 98, and 9. lug 9'I rigid with a hub portion 98 of the pawl 89. A coiled torsion spring 99 acts upon the two pawls to take up the lost motion in one direction, so that in the conditioning operation incident to the descent of the rack to its lowermost position, the downward thrust of the link 98 on the pawl 89 is transmitted positively to the pawl 98 to lift it out of its notch on the carrier. On the other hand, the lost motion connection permits the pawl 89 to be moved upwardly by the link 98 as an incident to the return movement of the rack 38 to its uppermost position. Thus it will be-seen that the escapement is conditioned in the downward movement of the rack in the sense that the pawl 98 is disengaged from its notch, and it is actu- After a bobbin has been delivered to the magazine I3 it is necessary that the end of the yarn wound upon the bobbin be seized and positioned for engagement by the conventional selvage clamping and shearing device preliminary to the transfer of the bobbin into the loom shuttle. Accordingly, I have provided an end finding means including a finder I88 (Fig. 5) mounted for reciprocation toward and from the wound bobbin while in its delivery position. As shown, the bobbins are wound in such a way as to provide on the tip ends thereof an auxiliary or finding coil I8I, and the finder is so constructed as to be capable .of slipping over this coil in the approach of the finder to the bobbin and then stripping the coil from the bobbin in the retraction of the finder away from the bobbin so as to provide an extended end which is held in the ensuing movement of the shuttle.

3 The finder per se and its mode of operation with respect to the bobbin is of the type disclosed in Colman Patent No. 1,666,735. In the present instance, the finder is mounted on a bracket I82 slidable upon a horizontally disposed bar I88 and havinga laterally extending portion I88 clamped to the lower run-of an endless chain I88 (see also Fig. .1). The chain is supported by spaced sprockets I88 and I81 (Fig. 5) suitably journaled in the machine frame, and one of these sprockets, namely, the sprocket I8! is operatively associated with the pawl and ratchet drive mechanism for the bobbin rack 88 so as to be actuated in timed relation to the stepping movements of the rack and therefore to the indexing movements of the magazine I8 under the control of the feeler Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, the sprocket I81 has rigid therewith a pinion I88 with which meshes a rack bar I89 suitably guided for vertical sliding movement in a frame member IIII. A coiled contractile spring III is connected with the bar and is placed under tension as the bar moves downwardly.

Actuation of the bar I89 in timed relation to the indexing movements of the magazine is accomplished through the use of a push rod 2 pivoted at I I8 at its upper end to an arm I I8 rigid with the supporting arm 58 of the actuating pawl 88. The push rod I I2 is arranged to be positioned in alinement with the bar I89 (see broken lines in Fig. 3) under the control of the feeler 82. For this purpose, the push rod is connected to the feeler by an arm I I5 rigid with respect to the feeler arm 88 and alink II8 connecting the arm I I8 with the push rod.

When the push rod 2 is retracted to its-upper position in the oscillation of the arm H8 and a stepping movement is imparted to the magazine 40 so that the bobbin in the delivery position is carried to the right (Fig. 3), the push rod is swung by the feeler into alinement with the rack bar I 89. Thereupon, and in the ensuing downward movement of the actuating arm H8. the rack bar is depressed against the action of its spring III, with the result that the sprocket I8! is rotated in a direction to cause the bracket I82 to move rearwardly so as to carry the finder I88 into association with the bobbin in the delivery position DP (Fig. 1). In the retraction of the push rod H2, the rack bar I89 is operated reversely by its spring so as to cause the finder I88 to withdraw from the bobbin, carrying with it the coil IIII and holding the end of the yarn in the ensuing operation of the shuttle.

In order that the magazine I3 may be loaded manually, provision is made for the manual actuation of the loading rack, it being contemplated in such event that the magazine I3 will also be indexed manually. For this purpose (see Figs. 1 and 2), I provide a hand lever III loosely mounted on the outer end of the shaft 88 and normally urged by a torsion spring II8 against a stop II9. Pinned. on the shaft forwardly of the hand lever I I1 is an arm I28 having a lug I2I arranged for engagement by the hand lever III- as the latter is swung in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 1). In such operation of the hand lever, the shaft 88 is rocked counterclockwise and with it the arm 88 carrying the actuating pawl 88, the arrangement being such that for each swinging movement thus imparted to the hand lever. the actuating pawl is operated to im-' part a stepping movement to the loading rack 88.-

It will be understood that in this operation the guard plate 85 is controlled by the feeler 32 and that in the initial operation the guard plate will occupy a position in nonblocking relation to the pawl 46 due to the absence of any bobbin in the loading position on the magazine I3. It will also be seen that in the normal automatic operation of the machine, the hand lever III will remain stationary, the arm I20 only being reciprocated in the operation of the ratchet drive mechanism. Moreover, the manual operation of the shaft 48, by the hand lever II'I independently of the pitman is permitted by the slot 51.

To permit of the use of bobbin carriers in which the individual holders are in the form of pins instead of U-shaped clips, as above described, a somewhat diflerent construction shown in Figs. 7, 7a, 8 and 9 may be employed. In this embodiment, bobbin carriers C provided with rows of pins 31', are arranged for sliding movement as before in the guides'35 and 36, the carriers being arranged for advance by a weight actuated backer under the control of escapement mechanism as in the preceding embodiment. In this instance, however, the loading rack 33 is disposed outwardly of the bobbin carriers (see Fig. 9) so as to clear the pins 31'. For transferring a row of bobbins one at a time from a bobbin carrier to. the loading rack, I provide ejecting means in the form of a plurality of ejector rods I22 arranged for reciprocation in guides I23 and through slots I24 in the carriers for engagement with the butt ends of the leading row of bobbins.

The rods I22 are preferably arranged in pairs,

one pair for each bobbin in the row and, as shown in Fig. 7, the rods of each pair are disposed diagonally substantially on diametricallyopposlte sides of the pins 31'.

The guides I23 for the push rods I22 may be supported in a suitable stationary frame member I25. At their rear ends the rods are fastened in a bar I26 pivotally supported between a pair of arms I21 and I28 fast upon a vertically disposed rockshaft I29.

The ejector is arranged for actuation by the pawl actuating arm 55 of the ratchet drive mechanism. For this purpose, the upper arm I28 of the ejector has rigid therewith a rearwardly extending arm I30 (Figs. 7a and 8) pivotally connected to the arm 55 through the medium of a yoke I3I and a downward extension I32,of the arm 55 (see Fig. 7a). The arrangement is such that the ejector rods I22 are retracted in the upward movement of the actuatin pitman 5| and are actuated to eject the bobbins from the pins 31' in the downward stroke of the pitman, the pawl actuating arm 55 being swung downwardly by the spring 58.

To receive and hold the ejected bobbins, the rack 33 is in this instance preferably equipped with retaining springs I33 (Fig. 9) attached to the receptacle forming lugs 39. These springs I33 coact with the wire rings on the butt ends of the bobbins so as to hold the latter in proper position with respect to the loading rack. If desired,

provision may be made for supporting the tip ends of the bobbins in which event the springs I33 may be omitted. In this connection, reference is made to Figs. lO'and 11 showing a loading rack equipped with a plate I34 secured to the outer side of the rack and having an outer flange I35 shaped to provide laterally opening notches I36 dimensioned to receive and support the tip ends of the bobbins. For stiffening purposes, the upper edge control of the loom and the feeler 62.

oivthe plate may be formed with a top flange In the embodiment of Figs. '7 to 9, the means for controlling th position of the push rod I I2 for actuating the end finder mechanism is somewhat different from that of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 6. In this instance, the position of the push rod is controlled by the feeler 62 through the medium of the guard plate 65, the latter having for this purpose a depending arm I38 formed rigid with the guard plate and carrying a pin I39 engageable with the push rod II2. A spring I40 acts upon the push rod as permitted by the arm I38 and therefore by the feeler controlled guard plate 65 to swing the push rod into alinement with the rack bar I03, the latter being provided at its upper end with a stop plate I for engagement by the push rod when the latter is in its upper or retracted position. In this embodiment also link 04 which connects the lever arm 68 with the escapement mechanism controlling the advance of the carriers is connected to the arm 68 through a second arm I42 (Fig. 7) rigid with the lever 68.

The operation of the mechanism may now be summarized, having particular reference to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 6: Assuming that a plurality of bobbin carriers C have been placed in the machine for movement in the guides 35 and 36, with the backer 86 pressing against the trailing carrier under the action of the weight 83, the mechanism is operated, preferably manually, to cause the loading device to transfer the bobbins from the receptacles 3'! to the holders I5 of the magazine I3. With the loading rack 33 in its uppermost position and no bobbin in the loading position on the magazine, the feeler 62 occupies the broken line position shown in Fig. 3 so that the guard plate 65 is positioned in unblocking relation to the actuating pawl 46 of the ratchet drive mechanism. Operation of the hand lever to the left actuates arm I20 and with it shaft 48 and arm 54 thereon carrying the actuating pawl. As a result, a stepping move ment is imparted to the loading rack carrying all of the bobbins in the leading row downwardly and transferring the lowermost bobbin to the.

magazine.

The operation of the hand lever II! is repeated for each indexing movement imparted to the magazine I3 to present an empty bobbin holder to the loading position, until a filled holder reaches the delivery position. Thereafter. the operation takes place automatically under the As a bobbin is ejected from the magazine at the delivery position, a new bobbin is transferred by the rack 38 to the magazine at the loading position.

In the transfer of the bobbins to the magazine by the loading device, the bobbins of the leading row are retained within the receptacles 34 and advanced from one holder 31 to the next lowermost holder in the operation of the pawl and ratchet drive mechanism 43 under the control of the guard plate 65 positioned in nonblocking relation to the actuating pawl 46 by the feeler 62. When the last or uppermost bobbin in the row has been delivered to the magazine and carried out of its receptacle as an incident to the move ment of the magazine, the pin I0 on the rack strikes the lever 68, causing the pin I3 to swing the tail of the holding pawl 41 out from engagement with the ratchet wheel 45. At about the same time, the dog I6 moves into engagement with the stop shoulder TI on the rack so that Upon the delivery of one row of bobbins to the magazine. the carriers are advanced by the action of the weight 89 under the control of the escapement device 08 so as to carry a new row of bobbins into the receptacles 84 of the rack. In this operation, the escapement mechanism is controlled by the reciprocation of the rack, being conditioned upon movement of the rack into its lowermost position for actuation by the return of the rack to its uppermost position. The movement of the lever arm 58 in the approach of the rack to its lowermost position is transmitted by link 94 to the escapment pawls 89 and 90, moving the former downwardly into engagement with a notch 92 in the upper edge of the carrier, and swinging the pawl '90 upwardly out of engagement with its notch. Due to the fact that the notches are of greater width than their respective pawls, movement of the'pawl 89 into its notch upon withdrawal of the pawl 80 from its notch permits a slight advancing movement of the carrier sumcient to carry the notch for the pawl 90 sufllciently beyond the pawl so as to rest upon the upper edge of the carrier. The

lever arm 88 is yieldably retained in itslowered.

position by the action of the spring detent 80, and when upon the return movement of the rack to its uppermost position the lever arm is positively disengaged from its detent and swung into its upper position, the pawl 89 is swung upwardly as permitted by the lost motion connection 90 (Fig. between the two pawls and against the action of the spring '99. Thereupon, the carriers therefore under the control of the feeler 82. and

in this operation the depression of the rack bar I09 drives the sprocket I01 .(Fig. 6) and actuates the chain I05 to carry the bracket I02 and feeler thereon into engagement with the bobbin in the delivery position. Return movement of the rack I08 under the action of the spring III causes the feeler to strip the coil IOI from the tip end of the bobbin and holds the extended end in outwardly projected relation to the bobbin for seizure by the conventional selvage shearing and clamping device.

Figs. 12 to 15 show a modification of the means for ejecting the bobbins from pins on the pin 7 boards for transfer to the loading rack, together with an alternative form of indexing means for the pin boards. In this instance, the actuation of the ejecting rods as well as the indexing oi. the boards is accomplished positively by cam means connected with the main drive shaft of the loom to insure the operation of the parts in proper timed relation to each other.

Referring to Figs. 12 and 13, the continuously driven shaft 53 is provided with two cams I15 and I18. The cam I15 is a cylindrical cam acting upon ejector rods I22a through the medium of a bell crank I11; and the cam I15 is a disk cam operatively associated with an indexing pawl I18, through the medium of a roller follower 3o device I19.

As best shown in Fig. 12, the bell crank I11. comprises a vertically disposed rockshaft we having a roller follower arm I8I coacting with the cam I15. ,At the upper and lower ends of this shaft are two arms I82 and I83 pivotally supporting between them a bar I26a carrying the eiectorrods I22a, the latter being slidable in guides I23a for movement through holes I2 iav in the pin board into engagement with the leading row of bobbins on the pin board in the general manner set forth in connection with Figs.

, 7 and 8.

are advanced until the pawl 90 is forced by the spring '99 into engagement with the'succeeding notch 92, carrying the next succeeding row of a position in axial alinement therewith and then ejected from the carrier to the loading rack by the operation of the push rods I22 acting to move the bobbins axially into disengaged relation to the holding pins 31' of the carrier. The ejector rods I22 are actuated by the rockshaft I29 through the medium of the arms I21 and I28 and the lever I30 (Fig. 8) 'operatively connected with the main actuating arm 55 of the pawl and ratchet mechanism through the medium of the arm I32. Since the shaft I29 is actuated by the arm 55, an actuating stroke is imparted to the ejector rods, once for each operation of the crank 52. 1

Upon the delivery of a bobbin to the delivery position, the end finder I00 is actuated by the push rod I I2 through the medium of the rack bar I09 under the control of the feeler 02, connected with a push rod by a link '6. The push rod is actuated by the ratchet mechanism 48 and uides I44 and I45.

Referring now to the indexing of the pin boards by the disk cam I18. the boards are mounted for movement along horizontal vertically spaced The pawl I18 is pivotally supported upon the upper end of an arm I41 forming a part of the follower device I19, said arm being rigid with a rockshaft I48 carrying a second arm I49 (Fig. 13) equipped with a roller I50 for engagement with the cam I18. 7 At its free end the pawl I18 carries a dog "I engageable in one of a series of patches I52 in the lower edge of the pin board, the lower guide I45 being formed with a slot I59 (Fig. 15) to permit of movement of the pawl with the pin board in the operation of the cam I16. A coiled torsion spring I48a having one end anchored to the arm I41 and the other to the frame of the machine (Fig. 13) tends to rock the shaft I48 in a direction to urge the roller I50 against the cam I18.

The position of the pawl I18 with respect to the pin board is controlled by the loading rack 33a. For this purpose the rack carries a pin I54 (Fig. 14) arranged to actuate a vertical link I55 having a laterally extending portion I 56 at its lower end for engagement with a pin I51 on. the free end of the pawl I18. At its upper end, the link I55 is pivotally connected with a detent I58 (Fig. 14) turning on a fixed pivot and having a dog I59 for engagement in. one of a series of notches I58 in the upper edge of the pin board. Rigid with the detent I58 is a lug IIiI for engagement by the pin I54 so that when the rack is in its uppermost position, as shown in Fig. 12.

dog I5! is disengaged from its notch and dog II of the indexing pawl is moved into engagement with its notch I52.

Assuming that the loading rack 33a hasbee returned to its uppermost position (Fig. 12) and that the leading row of bobbins b is to be advanced into the receptacles of the rack, the operation is as follows: In the first ninety degrees of rotation of the shaft 53 from the position shown in Fig. 12, the indexing pawl I18 is moved to the left to advance the pin board a distance sumcient to carry the row of bobbins b into the rack receptacles, it being observed that when the loading rack is in its uppermost position the dog I5I of the indexing pawl is in engagement with a notch I52 in the pin board alined with the row of bobbins, and that the detent I58 is disengaged from the pin board. In the next ninety degrees of rotation of the shaft 53, the face cam I15 actuates the bell crank I I! so as to cause the.

ejector rods H211 to act upon the bobbins to shift them axially of their respective holding pins 31' and into the receptacles of the loading rack. Thereupon, in the next ninety degrees of rotation of the shaft 53, the ejector rods are withdrawn, the indexing pawl remaining in its advanced position due to the shape of the cam I16. After withdrawal of the ejector rods, the loading rack moves downwardly one step as required L to transfer the lowermost bobbin therein to the magazine, allowing the link I55 to move downwardly so as to permit disengagement of the indexing pawl from the pin board and to cause engagement of the detent dog I59 with the upper edge of the pin board. In the final ninety degrees of movement of the shaft 53, the indexing pawl is retracted to the initial position shown in Fig. 12. While the pawl I18 is reciprocated in succeeding revolutions of the shaft 53 it is disengaged from the pin board and is therefore in-,

efiective to advance the pin board until all of the bobbins in the first vertical row have been thereon and movable step-by-step to carry said holders into and out of a predetermined loading position successively, a reciprocatory loading device having a series of bobbin receptacles supporting a row of bobbins for movement into said loading position successively, actuating means for efiectlng the advance of said loading device stepby-step to carry said bobbins one-by-one to said loading position, and means for eifecting the re- I turn of the device to its initial position following delivery of the last bobbin in the row to the magazine.

2. A bobbin replenishing mechanism for looms having, in combination, a rotary magazine with a plurality of bobbin holders adapted to receive and support wound bobbins in a predetermined loading position and move the same out of position, a loading rack mounted for movement radially of the magazine at said loading position and having a series of laterally opening receptacles releasably supporting a row of bobbins, means for imparting stepping movements to the rack, and means for returning the rack following delivery of the last bobbin in the row to the magazine.

3. A bobbin replenishing mechanism for looms having, in combination, a rotary magazine with a plurality of bobbin holders adapted to receive and support wound bobbins in a predetermined loading position and move the same out of position, a loading rack mounted for movement radially of the magazine at said loading position and having a series of laterally opening receptacles releasably supporting a row of bobbins,

means for imparting stepping movements to the supply a new row of bobbiris to the rack.

delivered to the magazine and the rack 33a has been returned to its uppermost position so as to withdraw the detent I 59 and lift the indexing pawl "8 into engagement with the next notch I52.

Positive indexing of the pin board as distinguished from the movement of the pin board by means of a weight and cable, as in the embodiment first above described, renders it necessary to provide means for advancing other or succeeding pin boards. I have herein shown an additional indexing and detent means for one succeeding pin board. Referring to Fig. 15, I

provide for this purpose an additional indexing pawl I62 and an additional detent I63. The pawl I62 is mounted upon a lever arm I64 connected by a link I65 to the lever arm I41; and the pawl I62 is connected with the detent by means of a vertical link I66. The detents I58 and I63 are connected for operation in unison by means of a horizontal link I61 pivoted at op- 4. In a bobbin replenishing mechanism for looms, the combination of a rotatable magazine having a circumferential series of bobbin holders thereon and movable step-by-step to carry said holders into and out of a predetermined loading position successively, a loading device having a series of bobbin receptacles supporting a row of bobbins for movement into said loading position successively, actuating means for eilfecting the advance of said loading device step-by-step, means for effecting the return of the device to its initial position following delivery of the last bobbin in the row to the magazine, means supporting a bobbin carrier-having a plurality of bobbin holders arranged in spaced parallel rows with the bobbins in each row spaced apart according to the spacing of the receptacles in the loading device, means supporting said carrier for movement toward the loading device to carry the leading row of bobbins into the receptacles of the loading device when the latter is in its initial position, and means operative upon the return of the loading device to said initial position to impart an advancing movement to the carrier.

5. In a bobbin replenishing mechanism for looms having means for receiving and individual- 1y supporting wound bobbins for movement from a loading position to a delivery position, means operative in timed relation to the movement of a wound bobbin out of the loading position to deliver another bobbin to said loading position comprising a reciprocatory support having a plurality of bobbin holders releasably supporting a row of bobbins in spaced parallel relation, power driven,

means for advancing said support with a stepby-step motion, and means for returning said support upon the delivery of the last bobbin in the row to loading "position. i

6'; In" a, bobbin replenishing mechanism for looms having means for receivingand individually supporting wound bobbins for movement from a-loading position to a delivery position, a loading device having a series of receptacles supporting a series of bobbins in spaced relation, and means for advancing said loading device to carry said bobbins into said loading position successively including an actuating mechanism and a ieeler for controlling the same operative in response to the movement or a wound bobbin out of said loading position to effect the transfer oi. another bobbin to said loading position.

7. In a bobbin replenishing mechanism for looms having a magazine with a plurality of bobbin holders thereon and movable with a stepby-step motion to carry said holders into and out of a predetermined loading position, means for delivering a bobbin to each magazine holder presented to said magazine including a reciprocatory support having a series of bobbin holders, a drive mechanism for advancing the support with a step-by-step movement and for returning the support to a retracted position for the reception of a new supply of bobbins, and means operative in timed relation to the movement of the last bobbin on the support out of loading position to eiiect the return of the support to such retracted position.

8. In a bobbin replenishing mechanism for looms having a magazine with a plurality oi bobbin holders thereon and movable with a step-bystep motion to carry said holders into and out of a predetermined loading position, means for tielivering a bobbin to each magazine holder presented to said magazine including a reciprocatory support having a series of bobbin holders, and drive mechanism for advancing the support including an actuating element and means responsive to the presence of a bobbin in said loading position to render said element ineffective.

9. In a bobbin replenishing mechanism for looms having a magazine with a plurality of bobbin holders thereon and movable with a stepby-step motion to carry said holders into and out of a predetermined loading position, means for delivering a bobbin to each magazine holder presented to said magazine including a reciprocatory support having a series of bobbin holdem, a drive mechanism for advancing the support including a ratchet wheel and a pawl ior actuating the same, and means responsive to the presence of a bobbin in said loading position to render said pawl ineifective to actuate the ratchet wheel.

10. In a bobbin replenishing mechanism for looms having a magazine with a plurality of bobbin holders thereon and movable with a step-by step motion to carry said holders into and out of a predetermined loading position, means for delivering a bobbin to each magazine holder presented to said magazine including a reciprocatory support having a series of bobbin holders, a drive mechanism for advancing the support including a ratchet wheel and a pawl for actuating the same, means responsive to the presence of a bobbin in said loading position to render said pawl ineffective to actuate the ratchet wheel, a spring energized in the movement of the support, a holding pawl for the ratchet, and mean operable in the advancing movement of said support to disengage said holding pawl from the ratchet.

Gil

der said pawl ineffective to actuate the ratchet wheel, a spring energized in the movement of i the support, a holding pawl for the ratchet, means operable in the advancing movement of said support to disengage said holding pawl from the ratchet, means operating substantially concurrently with the release 01 said holding pawl to retain said support in position with a bobbin in said loading position, and means operative in response to the movement of said bobbin out of loading position to disengage said holding means for the support.

12. In a bobbin replenishing mechanism for looms having means for individually receiving and supporting a wound bobbin for movement' from a loading position to a delivery position, a

movable support for a plurality of wound bobbins releasably supporting the bobbins in spaced parallel relation, power driven means for actuating said support to carry the wound bobbins thereon into said loading position successively, andmeans for eii'ecting the return movement oi the support from a final advanced position for 40 said support in its said final position, and means delivery of the last bobbin thereon to said loading position including spring means energized in the advancing movement of the support by said power driven means, means releasably holding responsive to the movement of said last bobbin out of loading position to release said support to the action of said spring means.

13. In a bobbin replenishing mechanism for looms having means for receiving and individually supporting wound bobbins for movement from a loading position to a'delivery position, a loading device having a series of receptacles supporting a series of bobbins in spaced relation, means for advancing said loading device to carry said bobbins into said loading position successively including an actuating mechanism and a ieeier for controlling the same operative in response to the movement of a wound bobbin out 01' a said loading position to effect the transfer of another bobbin to said loading position, and a second feeler operating in response to the movement out 01' loading position of the last bobbin in said row to effect the return of the loading device to its initial position' 14. In a bobbin replenishing mechanism for looms having means for receiving and individ-' ually supporting wound bobbins for movement to a predetermined loading position, means for supplying bobbins to the last mentioned means including a support having a plurality of bobbin receptacles, and means for actuating the support in a direction to carry said bobbins one-byone to said loading position, means for returning the support to a retracted position after the delivery of the last bobbin thereon to said loading position, and means operative automatically upon the return of the support to its retracted position to supply new bobbins to said receptacles.

15. In a bobbin replenishing mechanism for looms having means for receiving and individually supporting wound bobbins for movement to a predetermined loading position, means for supplying bobbins to the last mentioned means including a rack having a row of bobbin receptacles, and means for actuating the rack in a direction to carry said bobbins in said row one by one to said loading position, means for returning the support to a retracted position after the delivery of the last bobbin thereon to said loading position, means for movably supporting a bobbin carrier having a plurality of holders thereon individually supporting rows of bobbins in spaced parallel relation, and means operative upon the return of the rack to its retracted position to advancesaid carrier whereby to deliver a new ro of bobbins to the rack.

16. In a bobbin replenishing mechanism for looms having means for receiving and individually supporting wound bobbins for movement from a loading position to a delivery position,

'means for transferring bobbins to the last mentioned means including a rack having a series of bobbin receptacles arranged for movement successively into said loading position, said rack having an initial retracted position, and means for supplying wound bobbins to said rack when in its said retracted position.

17. In a bobbin replenishing mechanism for looms having means for receiving and individually supporting wound bobbins for movement from a loading position to a delivery position, means for transferring bobbins to the last mentioned means including a rack having a row of laterally opening bobbin receptacles, means for advancing said rack from an initial retracted position, and means for supplying a new row of bobbins to the rack when in such retracted position including means for supporting a bobbin carrier for movement toward said rack transversely thereof, and means operative in such retracted position of the rack to advance the carrier.

18. In a bobbin replenishing mechanism for looms having means for receiving and individually supporting wound bobbins for movement from a loading position to a delivery position, means for transferring bobbins to the last mentioned means including a rack having a row 01' bobbin receptacles, means for advancing said rack with -a step-by-step movement, means for effecting return of the rack to a retracted position when the last bobbin in the row has been moved into said loading position by the rack, a support for a bobbin carrier having a plurality of rows of bobbins releasably held thereby, and means operable upon the return of the rack to its retracted position for transferring a new row of bobbins from said carrier to said rack receptacles.

19. Inv a bobbin replenishing mechanism for looms having means for receiving and individually supporting wound bobbins for movement from a loading position to a delivery position, means for transferring bobbins to the last mentioned means including a rack having a row of bobbin receptacles, means for advancing said rack with a step-by-step movement, means for effecting return of the rack to a retracted position, a support for a bobbin carrier having a plurality of rows of bobbins releasably held thereby and means for imparting advancing movements to the carrier to present a new row of bobbins to said rack receptacles including a control device responsive to the return of the 18 rack to its retracted position, said control device being conditioned for operation by the rack in advancing the last bobbin in the row to said loading position.

20. In a bobbin replenishing mechanism for looms having means for receiving and individually supporting wound bobbins for movement from a loading position to a delivery position, means for transferring bobbins to the last mentioned means including a rack having a row of bobbin receptacles, means for advancing said rack with a step-by-step movement, means for effecting return of the rack to a retracted position, a support for a bobbin carrier having a plurality of rows of bobbins releasably held thereby, and means for imparting advancing movements to the carrier to present a new row of bobbins to said rack receptacles including an escapement device actuated in timed relation to the return of the rack to its retracted position to release the carrier to the action of said actuating means.

21. In a bobbin replenishing mechanism for looms, a loading rack having a series of receptacles for receiving and retaining a row of bobbins, means for advancing said rack to carry the bobbins one by one into a predetermined loading position and thereafter returning the rack to its initial position, means supporting a carrier having a row of bobbins thereon for movement into said receptacles, means yieldably urging the bobbin carrier toward said rack and an escapement device controlling the advance of the carrier by the last mentioned means including a holding pawl operative in the movement of the rack in one direction and a releasing pawl operative in the movement of the rack in the opposite direction.

22. In a bobbin replenishing mechanism for looms having a rotary magazine with a plurality of bobbin holders arranged in circumferential series, a loading rack mounted for endwise movement substantially radially of the magazine and having a series of receptacles releasably supporting a row of bobbins, and means for advancing said rack step-by-step to effect the successive transfer of the bobbins therein to said magazine holders.

23. A bobbin replenishing mechanism for looms having, in combination, a rotary magazine with a plurality of bobbin holders adapted to receive wound bobbins in a predetermined. loading position and to move the same out of such position, a loading rack mounted for movement radially oi the magazine at said loading position and having a series of receptacles releasably supporting a row of bobbins, means for imparting a stepping movement to the rack including a pawl and ratchet drive means and a feeler responsive to the movement of the last bobbin in the row into and out of said loading position to render said drive means effective, and manually operable means for actuating said drive means.

24. A bobbin replenishing mechanism for looms having, in combination, a rotary magazine with a plurality of bobbin holders adapted to receive and support wound bobbins in a predetermined loading position and move the same out of such position, a loading rack mounted for movement radially of the magazine at said loading position and having a series of laterally opening receptacles releasably supporting a row of bobbins, means for imparting stepping movements to the rack, means for returning the rack following delivery of the last bobbin in the row to the magazine, means for delaying the return movement 19 of the rack until said last bobbin has been moved by the magazine out of said loading position, and means operative automatically upon the return of the rack to its initial position to supply a new row of bobbins to the rack comprising a bobbin carrier having U-shaped string clips releasably holding a row of bobbins at'the butt ends thereof, said rack being operative in its advancing movements to transfer one of the bobbins in said row to the magazine and the remaining bobbins from the carrier holder from one row to the next.

25. A bobbin replenishing mechanism for looms having, in combination, a rotary magazine with a plurality of bobbin holders adapted to receive and support wound bobbins in a predetermined loading position and move the same out of such position, a loading rack mounted for movement radially of the magazine at said loading position and having a series of laterally opening receptacles releasably supporting a row of bobbins, means for imparting stepping movements to the rack, means for returning the rack following delivery of the last bobbin in the row to the magazine, means for delaying the return movement of the rack until said last bobbin has been moved out of the magazine out of said loading position, and means operative automatically upon the return of the rack to its initial position to supply a new row of bobbins to the rack and comprising a bobbin carrier'having U-shaped spring clips releasably holding a row of bobbins at the butt'en'ds thereof, said magazine holders also comprising U-shaped clips, and said rack being operative in its advancing movements to transfer the lowermost bobbin in the rack to a magazine holder and the remaining bobbins in such row -from one clip to the next.

26. A .bobbin replenishing mechanism for looms having, in combination, a magazine with a plurality of bobbin holders adapted to receive and support wound bobbins from movement from a loading position to a delivery position, means for eflecting the delivery of wound bobbins one-byone to the magazine, and an end finder controlled by said feeler for movement into and out of operative association with the tip end of a bobbin in said delivery position.

27. A bobbin replenishing mechanism for looms having a magazine with holders for supporting bobbins-having end finding coils wound on the tip ends thereof and operable to move said bobbins from a loading position to a delivery position, means for effecting the transfer ofwound bobbins one-by-one to holders in said loading position including a loading device, drive means for imparting step-by-step movement to the loading device, an end finder operating in timed relation to the stepping movements of said loading device and arranged for movement into and out of operative association with the tip ends of the bobbins in said delivery position, and means for actuating said finder in timed relation to the stepping movements of the loading device.

28, A bobbin replenishing mechanism for looms in timed relation to the movements of said loading device and arranged for movement into and out of operative association with the tip ends of' the bobbins in said delivery position, and means controlled by said feeler for actuating said finder in timed relation to the stepping movements of the loading device including a member operatively connected with the finder to move it, a push rod controlled by said feeler and operative to move said member in one direction and spring means for returning said member.

29. A bobbin replenishing mechanism for looms having, in combination, means for receiving and individually supporting wound bobbins for movement from a' loading position to a delivery position, means for delivering the bobbins to the last mentioned means including a loading device having a plurality of bobbin receptacles, and means for supplying bobbins to said receptacles comprising a support for a bobbin carrier having a row of pins releasably holding a group of bobbins and means for shifting saidgroup of bobbins axially of said pins to disengagethem therefrom.

30. A bobbin replenishing mechanism for looms having, in combination, means for receiving and individually supporting wound bobbins for movement from a loading position to a delivery position, means for delivering bobbins to the last mentioned means including a loading rack havo ing a row of bobbin receptacles, and means for supplying bobbins to said receptacles including a support for a bobbin carrier having a row of pins releasably holding a group of bobbins, said carrier'being supported at one side of said rack with the pins in axial alinement with the re spective receptacles, and means for ejecting the group of bobbins from the carrier to said receptacles.

31. A bobbin replenishing mechanism for looms 40 having, in combination, means for receiving and individually supporting wound bobbins for movement from a loading position to a delivery position, means for delivering bobbins to the last mentioned means including a loading rack having a row of bobbin receptacles, and means for supplying bobbins to said receptacles including a support for a bobbin carrier having a row of pins releasably holding a group of bobbins, said carrier being supported atone side of said rack with the pins in axial alinement with the respective receptacles, and means for ejecting the group of bobbins from the carrier into said receptacles, said rack comprising 'a frame having receptacle forming means adapted to receive the butt ends of the bobbins and a recessed member for receiving and supporting the tip ends of the bobbins.

32. A bobbin replenishing mechanism for looms having, in combination, means for receiving and individually supporting wound bobbins for movement from a loading position to a delivery position, means for delivering bobbins to the last mentioned means including a loading rack having a row of bobbin receptacles and arranged for movement to deliver the bobbins in said re ceptacles one-by-one into said loading position, means for-returning the rack after the delivery of the last bobbin in the row to the loading position, and means for supplying a new row of bobbins to the receptacles including a support for a bobbin carrier having a row of pins releasably from the carrier to said rack receptacles com-- 21 prising a plurality of ejector elements, a support therefor, spring means tending to move said support in a direction to carry said elements into engagement with the bobbins, and power driven means for returning said support.

33. A bobbin replenishing mechanism for looms having, in combination, means for receiving and individually supporting wound bobbins for movement from a loading position to a delivery position, means for transferring the bobbins to the last mentioned means including a loading device having a plurality of bobbin receptacles. and means for supplying bobbins to said receptacles comprising a support for a bobbin carrier having a plurality of rows of pins releasably holding a group of bobbins, and cam operated means for advancing said carrier and for shifting said group of bobbins axially on said pins.

34. A bobbin replenishing mechanism for looms having, in combination, means for receiving and individually supporting wound bobbins for movement from a loading position to a delivery position, means for transferring the bobbins to the last mentioned means including a loading device having a plurality of bobbin receptacles, a support for a bobbin carrier having a plurality of rows of pins releasably holding groups of bobbins, means for advancing said carrier to present a group of bobbins opposite said receptacles, a plurality of ejector (rods, one for each receptacle of the loading device, and cam means operatively associated with said rods for imparting axial movements to the bobbins whereby to transfer them to said receptacles.

35. A bobbin replenishing mechanism for looms having, in combination, means for receiving and individually supporting wound bobbins for movement from a loading position to a delivery position, means for transferring the bobbins to the last mentioned means including a loading device having a plurality of bobbin receptacles, and means for advancing said device step-by-step and then returning the same to retracted position, and means for supplying bobbins to said receptacles comprising a support for a bobbin carrier having a plurality of bobbin holders, a carrier indexing member, and power driven means for actuating said indexing member in timed relation to the return of said loading device to its said retracted position.

36. A bobbin replenishing mechanism for looms having, in combination, means for receiving and individually supporting wound bobbins for movement from a loading position to a delivery position, means for transferring the bobbins to the last mentioned means including a loading device having a plurality of bobbin receptacles, and

means for supplying bobbins to said receptacles comprising a support for a bobbin carrier having a plurality of rows of pins releasably holding groups of bobbins, an indexing member for the bobbin carrier, ejecting means operable to shift the bobbins axially of said pins into said bobbin receptacles of the loading device, means operable in a predetermined position of the loading device to move said indexing member into engagement with the bobbin carrier, and cam means for actuating said indexing member to impart an indexing movement to the carrier and then actuating said ejecting means to shift the bobbins from the carrier into said receptacles.

37. A bobbin replenishing mechanism for looms having, in combination, means for receiving and individually supporting wound bobbins for movement from a loading position to a delivery posi- 22 tion, means for transferring the bobbins to the last mentioned means including a loading device having a row of bobbin receptacles, and means for supplying bobbins to said-receptacles comprising a support for a bobbin carrier having a plurality of rows of bobbin holders, detent means for holding the carrier against movement, an indexing element for the carrier, means responsive to the movement of the loading device into a predetermined position to disengage said detent means and to render said indexing element effective, and power driven means for actuating said indexing means.

38. A bobbin replenishing mechanism for looms having, in combination, means including a magazine for receiving and individually supporting wound bobbins for movement from a loading position to a delivery position, means for transferring the bobbins to the last mentioned means including a loading device having a pluralityof bobbin receptacles, means for imparting a stepby-step movement to the loading device to present successive bobbins to said magazine and for returning said loading device to a predetermined position in retracted relation to the magazine, means movably supporting a bobbin carrier having a plurality, of rows of bobbin holders spaced apart in accordance with the spacing of the bobbin receptacles of the loading device, and power driven cam means operable as an incident to the return of the loading device to its retracted position to impart an indexing movement to the carrier whereby to advance a row of bobbins to the loading device. l

39. In a bobbin replenishing mechanism for looms, a reciprocatory loading device having a row of bobbin receptacles for individually receiving and supporting a row of bobbins, means for supporting a bobbin carrier having a plurality of bobbin holders thereon arranged in rows and individually supporting bobbins for movement in successive groups to said loading device, an indexing member engageable with the carrier as an incident to the movement of the loading device into a predetermined position, and power driven means for actuating said indexing member operating in timed relation to the movement of the loading device into said predetermined pofor supporting a bobbin carrier having a plurality of bobbin holders thereon arranged in rows and individually supporting bobbins for movement in successive groups to said loading device, an indexing member engageable with the carrier as an incident to the movement of the loading device into a predetermined position, means operating in timed relation to the movement of the loading device into said position whereby to actuate said indexing member and move said carrier to deliver a row of bobbins into said receptacles, and detent means engageable with the carrier to hold it in its advanced position, said detent means being disengageable from the carrier as an incident to the movement of the indexing member into engagement with the carrier.

41. In a bobbin replenishing mechanism for looms, a bobbin loading device shiftable into a predetermined bobbin receiving position, means for supporting a plurality of carriers having a 

